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Episode One of ‘Minecraft: Story Mode – Season Two’ Now Available for Download on All Platforms 

Episode One of ‘Minecraft: Story Mode – Season Two’ Now Available for Download on All Platforms   

Jesse’s adventures in the world of Minecraft continue in season two premiere, ‘Hero in Residence,’ starting today.

SAN RAFAEL, Calif., and STOCKHOLM, Sweden, July 11th, 2017 — Award-winning developer and publisher of digital entertainment Telltale Games and world-renowned game developer Mojang today launched the first episode of Minecraft: Story Mode – Season Two. The episode, entitled ‘Hero in Residence,’ is now available for download on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC, Mac, iOS, and Android-based devices, as well as through Telltale’s own online store.

Minecraft: Story Mode – Season Two continues Jesse’s saga in a five-part, narrative-driven, episodic game series developed by Telltale in collaboration with Mojang and members of the Minecraft community. Though players’ choices from the first season will carry over into season two, this new season will be accessible to both returning fans and newcomers alike. This second season will also include Telltale’s unique multiplayer ‘Crowd Play’ feature, which allows friends and family to engage with the adventure together by helping to decide the direction of the story from any mobile device with an online connection.

Now that Jesse and the gang have vanquished the Wither Storm, saved the world, and become totally super famous heroes, life has gotten a bit more…complicated. With more responsibilities and less time for adventure, old friendships have started to fade — at least until Jesse’s hand gets stuck in a creepy gauntlet that belongs to an ancient underwater temple. Together with old pals and new comrades alike, Jesse embarks on a brand new journey filled with tough choices, good times, and at least one temperamental llama.

This season will feature voice work from Patton Oswalt, Catherine Taber, Ashley Johnson, and Scott Porter, as well as cameos from Stampy Cat, stacyplays, and other personalities from the Minecraft community on YouTube. Additional casting details for the season are yet to be announced.

Minecraft: Story Mode – Season Two will be a standalone product separate from both the core Minecraft game and season one of Minecraft: Story Mode. Season two will be available for download on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC, Mac, iOS, and Android-based devices. A retail version on disc will become available this fall. Episode one has been rated ‘Everyone 10+’ by the ESRB.

For more information on Telltale Games, visit the official website, follow @TelltaleGames on Twitter, and like Telltale on Facebook.

For more information on Mojang, visit the official website, follow @Mojang and @Minecraft on Twitter, and like Minecraft on Facebook.

About Mojang

Mojang AB is a Microsoft-owned games studio based in Stockholm, Sweden. We’re responsible for the relatively popular video game Minecraft. We also created the card-collecting tactical battler Scrolls, and have dabbled in publishing with Oxeye Game Studio’s awesome side-scrolling robo-blaster Cobalt. We’re developing more games, too, but we’re not ready to talk about those quite yet.

About Telltale, Inc.
Telltale is a leading independent developer and publisher of games for every major interactive platform, including PC, home consoles, and mobile devices. It also pioneered the episodic delivery of digital gaming content.

Founded in 2004 by games industry veterans with decades of experience, Telltale quickly became an industry leader, with numerous honors and awards from the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences, BAFTA, IMGA, and more. In 2012, Telltale was named Studio of the Year after establishing a model for successful episodic game creation and digital publishing.

Telltale’s reputation for quality has been established across more than three dozen different product releases over the years, earning acclaim from publications like IGN, The New York Times, and Variety, as well as over 100 “Game of the Year” awards. Telltale is a fully licensed third party publisher on consoles from Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo, and also publishes games on the PC, Mac, and Apple iOS platforms. For more information, visit www.telltalegames.com.

GROUNDBREAKING CLOUD-GAMING PLATFORM LIQUIDSKY UNLOCKS COMPLETE PC GAMING EXPERIENCE ON ANDROID DEVICES

GROUNDBREAKING CLOUD-GAMING PLATFORM LIQUIDSKY UNLOCKS COMPLETE PC GAMING EXPERIENCE ON ANDROID DEVICES

LiquidSky Launches on Google Play for Android Phones and Tablets, Offering a Powerful Gaming PC Anywhere, Anytime and on Almost Any Device

New York, NY (July 11, 2017) LiquidSky — a first-of-its-kind cloud-based platform that delivers a high-quality PC gaming experience anywhere, anytime and on nearly all devices — is excited to announce today that the LiquidSky 2.0 beta for Android devices is now available for download from Google Play. Leveraging the power of the cloud, the all-new LiquidSky Android app supports all the new features and performance enhancements recently made available in the LiquidSky 2.0 Windows PC beta. LiquidSky now empowers mobile gamers to play all of the latest AAA and popular indie PC titles from their Windows and Android devices, requiring neither proprietary nor expensive gaming hardware. LiquidSky delivers a full Windows PC experience via the cloud that, while gaming optimized, supports all native Windows applications.

“LiquidSky is incredibly excited to offer the thrill of PC gaming to a vast audience around the globe that was previously without access to capable gaming PCs,” said Ian McLoughlin, LiquidSky’s co-founder and CEO. “We believe the world is going mobile and, until today, mobile gaming meant compromise. Not anymore. The new LiquidSky Android app offers the same features and PC desktop capabilities of our cloud-based technology, but leverages the portability and prevalence of tablets and smartphones, making PC gaming truly possible anywhere, anytime, on billions of devices.”

Starting today, LiquidSky customers can access their entire gaming library from any of the popular storefronts – such as Steam, Blizzard, Origin, GOG, Humble Bundle, Green Man Gaming and many more – from their Android phone or tablet to play their favorite PC games nearly anywhere. The LiquidSky app also supports a growing variety of controllers — from Android-specific to popular Sony and Microsoft console compatible controllers — as well as touchscreen controls. Customers can now access the full features of the LiquidSky platform, including their account settings, interacting with the LiquidSky gaming community or checking out the latest LiquidSky news directly from their Android devices.

Free and modestly-priced Pay-As-You-Go or premium Monthly subscription plans are available at LiquidSky.com. The ad-supported free plan lets users opt-in to view advertisements in exchange for SkyCredits (accrued points that can be spent when using one’s SkyComputer). Pay-As-You-Go (starting at $9.99) and Monthly (starting at $19.99/month) payment plans now offer up to 500GB of cloud storage and 10GB/second download speeds for as little as $0.25/hour.

Customers select from two performance packages, based on the demands of the game or application of choice. The Gamer performance plan costs 60 SkyCredits/hour while the Pro performance plan costs 120 SkyCredits/hour. Both performance packages deliver 1080p gaming at up to 60+ FPS on Windows and Android devices.

The new LiquidSky Android Beta app is compatible with devices running mobile Android OS 6.0+ and is available for download at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=co.liquidsky.

LiquidSky 2.0 on Android launch video:

https://youtu.be/FEexxX0Nfoc

About LiquidSky

LiquidSky is a first of its kind Gaming-as-a-Service (GaaS) platform that uniquely solves the biggest hurdles previous cloud-gaming platforms faced: high latency, high cost, limited scalability and a finite catalog of supported games. With LiquidSky, play any PC video game as it was meant to be enjoyed — from the latest AAA titles to indie hits — on your Android phone or tablet, older Windows, Mac and even Linux devices. Without custom hardware or proprietary storefront, enjoy any game available from any PC portal — Steam, BattleNet, HumbleBundle, Uplay, Origin, GoG and more. LiquidSky’s unmatched latency delivers streamed resolutions at up to 1080p and 60+ FPS – freeing you to play your games nearly anywhere, anytime and on almost any device. For more information, please visit http://www.liquidsky.com.

KOEI TECMO EUROPE SHARES STORY DETAILS ALONGSIDE NEW TRAILER FOR UPCOMING JRPG, BLUE REFLECTION

KOEI TECMO EUROPE SHARES STORY DETAILS ALONGSIDE NEW TRAILER FOR UPCOMING JRPG, BLUE REFLECTION

First Trailer Explores the Mysterious “Common” and Demonstrates the Power of a “Reflector” in Developer GUST Studios’ Newest Original Title, Headed to PlayStation®4 and Steam® 

Hertfordshire, 11th July 2017 – KOEI TECMO Europe today revealed a wealth of information on the mystical parallel dimension of Blue Reflection, The Common, alongside a brand-new trailer that provides a first look at the magical abilities that empower the mysterious realm’s champions. Headed to the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and digitally to Windows PC via Steam® on the 29th September 2017, developer GUST Studios’ latest JRPG and original IP Blue Reflection invites players to assume the role of high school student Hinako Shirai as she learns there is more to her peaceful life than it seems.

Taking her first steps back into an everyday school life, Hinako is lost in a sea of unknown faces until she encounters a middle school friend, Sanae Nishida. Hinako notices a strange aura emerge from Sanae and suddenly awakens in a mysterious world where an intimidating demon awaits her! Before she has time to react, a pair of friendly voices reach out to her: “It will be alright. You can fight. Put your heart into the ring on your finger, and fight as a Reflector!” The magical twins Yuzu and Lime bestow Reflector powers on Hinako, promising her they will grant any wish she desires if she protects the world from devastating forces that seek to threaten humanity.

This is how Hinako learns of the mysterious parallel dimension, The Common: a place created by the unconsciousness of the human collective; where the causes of humans’ latent troubles lurk. Alongside Yuzu and Lime, she leaps fearlessly into this unknown world in search of crystallized emotion fragments – the physical manifestation of her classmates’ struggles – but encounters a myriad of challenges in her path. Players will explore unique and perilous locations in their attempt to locate these fragments and resolve their classmates’ problems in the real world, and will be called upon to battle dangerous demons who stand in their way!

While Hinako and her friends solve the problems plaguing Hoshinomiya Girls’ High School and live their day-to-day lives, devastating forces loom closer at each moment. These are the Sephira, gigantic creatures harboring overwhelming powers which threaten to end the world as the girls know it! In order to protect their classmates as well as humanity itself, Hinako, Yuzu and Lime transform into their magical Reflector forms and use their most powerful abilities by gathering the energy of emotions. By harnessing the close bonds they have formed, the Reflectors fight in hopes of repelling the Sephira forces once and for all.

New screenshots, artwork, and a gripping new trailer released alongside today’s announcement further introduce the game’s parallel world, Reflector abilities and day-to-day school life. Screenshots also show off Hinako, Yuzu and Lime’s Reflector forms for the first time, alongside some of their classmates: the highly intelligent Yuri Saiki, the kind-hearted chef Sanae Nishida, Hinako’s ex-ballet rival Sarasa Moshikawa, the young actress Mao Ninagawa and the ambitious Ako Ichinose.

For more information on Blue Reflection, please like us on www.facebook.com/ateliergames and follow us on twitter @koeitecmoeurope.

About Blue Reflection

Blue Reflection follows the life of Hinako Shirai as she takes her first steps into an ordinary school life after a tragic accident ends her ballet career. Her injury causes her to close off her heart from the rest of the world, but her life changes when she meets her new best friends, the magical Shijou twins Yuzu and Lime, who bestow her with the powers of a Reflector. As she comes to terms with her new abilities and traverses between her ordinary school life and The Common, Hinako starts to understand the very real perils that await not only her friends, but humanity itself.

ABOUT KOEI TECMO EUROPE LTD.

KOEI TECMO EUROPE LTD. is a publisher of interactive entertainment software for current generation consoles, handhelds and digital download content based in Letchworth, Hertfordshire, UK. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of KOEI TECMO HOLDINGS CO., LTD., headquartered in Yokohama, Japan. TECMO is best known for the Dead or Alive® and Ninja Gaiden®series. KOEI is best known for its Dynasty Warriors® and Samurai Warriors® franchises. On April 1, 2009, KOEI TECMO HOLDINGS CO., LTD was established as a result of the TECMO, LTD. and KOEI Co., Ltd. merger. More information about KOEI TECMO EUROPE LTD and its products can be found at www.koeitecmoeurope.com

BLUE REFLECTION ©2017 KOEI TECMO GAMES CO., LTD. All rights reserved. The KT logo is a registered trademark of KOEI TECMO HOLDINGS CO., LTD.

“PlayStation” is a registered trademark of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.

Jam City Brings the Magic of Peanuts to Players and Canine Companions with Launch of New Bubble Shooter Game, Snoopy Pop

Jam City Brings the Magic of Peanuts to Players and Canine Companions with Launch of New Bubble Shooter Game, Snoopy Pop

Jam City and Peanuts Worldwide Team Lend a Helping Paw to Canine Companions for Independence®, a Non-Profit Organization that Provides Assistance Dogs to Children, Adults and Veterans with Physical Disabilities

Los Angeles, July 11, 2017 — Today, Jam City and Peanuts Worldwide announced the worldwide launch of Snoopy Pop, an all-new bubble shooter game starring the beloved Peanuts characters and Snoopy alter-egos from the classic comic by Charles M. Schulz.  Additionally, it was also announced that Jam City, in honor of the Peanuts and Schulz legacy, will make a $100,000 contribution to Canine Companions for Independence, the largest provider of assistance dogs for children, adults and veterans with disabilities, including adults who are deaf or hard of hearing and professionals that work with groups of people with disabilities.

Created in close partnership with the artists, animators and storytellers at Peanuts Worldwide, Snoopy Pop gives anyone with a mobile device the ability to help rescue Woodstock and his flock of birds who have been trapped in bubbles. The free-to-play game is available in the App Store (http://jamcity.me/SP_PR_iOS) and via Google Play (http://jamcity.me/SP_PR_GP).

“Jam City is proud to be launching a game with one of the world’s most iconic brands.  Creating a game with Snoopy and the Peanuts gang has been a labor of love for our artists, storytellers and technical teams,” said Josh Yguado, co-founder, President and COO of Jam City. “Additionally, and in honor of Charles M. Schulz’s legacy and love for the organization’s mission, Jam City is moved to be supporting the important work of Canine Companions for Independence through Snoopy Pop. Canine Companions enhances independence by providing highly trained assistance dogs to Veterans and people with disabilities.”

“Supporting Canine Companions for Independence has a special place in my heart, and this Snoopy Pop collaboration is a fun way to do just that,” said Jean Schulz, National Board Member and Chair Emeritus of Canine Companions for Independence and wife of Charles M. Schulz.

The Peanuts Gang is Back!

Snoopy Pop gameplay features include:

  • Fun, varied, dynamic and challenging puzzles
  • Fresh new levels, characters, worlds and events added regularly
  • Collections of character game pieces, boosters and more
  • Unique character based power-ups, like Charlie Brown’s Kite
  • Game modes featuring Snoopy’s colorful alternate personas such as The Flying Ace and Masked Marvel
  • Events based on classic storylines and holiday special
  • Maps, obstacles and boosters that capture the spirit of Peanuts
  • Original licensed music from the Peanuts holiday specials

Snoopy Pop is just the type of interactive experience that we love, that bridge Peanuts into this new digital age,” said Roz Nowicki, Executive Vice President of Peanuts Worldwide. “We are also thrilled that Jam City is supporting Canine Companions for Independence, a charity near and dear to the hearts of both Charles and Jeannie Schulz. The demand for highly trained assistance dogs is ongoing and growing and this will help CCI bring additional dogs to those in need.”

Jam City has made a science out of turning some of the world’s largest entertainment franchises and brands into hit mobile games. The mobile gaming publisher is the creator of 6 of the Top 100 Highest Grossing games played nationwide across both iPhone and Android devices, including Panda Pop, the No. 1 bubble shooter in the U.S.

About Jam City

Jam City is a Los Angeles-based mobile game publisher with global reach. Created in 2010 by former MySpace co-founders Chris DeWolfe, Aber Whitcomb, and former Twentieth Century Fox executive Josh Yguado, Jam City is the creator of 6 of the Top 100 highest grossing games across Apple’s and Google’s US app stores. Its portfolio of titles–which includes Cookie Jam, Panda Pop, Genies & Gems, Family Guy: the Quest for Stuff and Marvel Avengers Academy–has been downloaded more than 800 million times and is regularly played by more than 50 million people per month. Jam City has studios in Seattle, San Francisco, San Diego and Buenos Aires.

About Peanuts Worldwide

The PEANUTS characters and related intellectual property are owned by Peanuts Worldwide LLC, a joint venture owned 80% by Iconix Brand Group, Inc. and 20% by members of the Charles M. Schulz family.

About Canine Companions for Independence

Non-profit Canine Companions for Independence provides highly-trained assistance dogs free of charge to children, adults and veterans with disabilities. Established in 1975, Canine Companions has trained over 5,400 assistance dog teams, with six training centers across the country in Northern California, Southern California, Florida, New York, Ohio and Texas, and over 3,000 volunteers nationwide. Canine Companions is recognized worldwide for the excellence of its dogs, and the quality and longevity of the matches it makes between dogs and people. The result is a life full of increased independence and loving companionship. For more information, visit cci.org or call 1-800-572-BARK.

WWE 2K18 IS COMING TO NINTENDO SWITCH

WWE 2K18 IS COMING TO NINTENDO SWITCH

Nintendo fans have made it clear, they want WWE 2K games on their console of choice. And we’re happy to announce that we’re coming back!

WWE 2K18 will release on Nintendo Switch™ this fall. This marks the first time in five years that a WWE game has been on a Nintendo platform. The Nintendo Switch version features docked play on television and offers the first portable edition of a WWE game in six years.

Like the other available versions of WWE 2K18, it includes a whole host of new features.

Get ready for eight man matches, a new grapple carry system, new weight detection, thousands of new animations and a massive backstage area. A brand-new rendering engine also gives WWE 2K18 a visual overhaul and will bring the drama of WWE to life like never before.

A new MyCareer experience puts you on the path to greatness as you journey along on the road to WrestleMania.  Explore WWE like never before through free-roaming backstage, conversing with WWE Superstars, forming alliances, making enemies, seeking out quests, and strategizing for upcoming matches.

Can your MyPlayer make it to the WWE Hall of Fame?  Introducing the all-new Road to Glory. Compete with opponents online to improve your MyPlayer by earning unlockables, boosts and upgrades all while securing your entry into special events that are held alongside real-life WWE special events, such as pay-per-views.

Customize WWE like never before with an even deeper set of customization tools and the new Custom Match option. The robust Creation Suite also offers even more detailed features for Create-a-Superstar, Create-a-Video and Create-an-Arena.

Dominate the ring with tons of your favorite WWE, NXT and legendary Superstars.WWE 2K18 offers the most complete roster of the biggest and brightest WWE and NXT Superstars and Legends to ever grace a WWE ring.

To celebrate the good news, WWE 2K18 cover Superstar Seth Rollins appeared in a special video announcing the series’ return to Nintendo platforms and debut on the Nintendo Switch.

Give it a watch and stay tuned for more details on the Nintendo Switch edition of WWE 2K18.

Pre-Order WWE 2K18 and receive two playable versions of WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle: his WWE “American Hero” persona (2001) or his ECW “Wrestling Machine” persona (2006).

For the latest news on WWE 2K18, follow @WWEgames:

JCB Pioneer: Mars Bringing Realistic Colonization to Steam Early Access

Atomicom announced their hardcore survival PC game JCB Pioneer: Mars will hit Steam Early Access in Winter 2017 (Summer 2017 in the Northern Hemisphere). Developed with guidance from astrophysicist Dr. Maggie Lieu, a research fellow at the European Space Agency; JCB Pioneer: Mars is setting its sights on being a realistic take on what early colonization of the Mars may actually look like. Atomicon also partnered with engineers from construction equipment firm JCB to create a variety of construction and mining vehicles that could believably find their way to Mars.

Players are among the first colonists send to Mars in hopes of finding a new home for humanity as Earth begins to collapse. They will start off in the wreckage of their landing pod. To have any hope of survival, they will need to quickly establish their first colony and secure their supply of oxygen. The colony will need a constant stream of materials for research, construction, and repairs as players contend with Mars’ hostile environment.

https://youtu.be/sSG5qgwx20U

Empyre: Lords of the Sea Gates Will Rise From The Oceans This Fall

Empyre: Lords of the Sea Gates Will Rise From The Oceans This Fall 

Coin Operated Games to Bring Classic, Neo-Victorian RPG Action to PC via Steam 

Auburn, New Hampshire – July 12, 2017 – Coin Operated Games announces today that its upcoming Neo-Victorian RPG Empyre: Lords of the Sea Gates, will be coming to Steam players this fall.  Currently in development by a team of industry veterans from such influential companies as Crytek, Codemasters, Gameloft and Creative Assembly, Empyre: Lords of the Sea Gates is a top-down isometric RPG that takes place in a Neo-Victorian New York circa 1911. The game’s first trailer can be viewed at https://youtu.be/n3324z7aMGs.

… water is everywhere but none of it to drink…

Featuring a top-down isometric presentation, Empyre: Lords of the Sea Gates will rekindle old-school PC RPG fans with feelings of some of the classic story driven RPGs of the 90s. While the combat should feel familiar to veteran players, there’s a new twist in that the game uses a hybrid Real Time/Turn-based System. Players can enter a “Planning Mode” where they choose actions for each character in their party while combat is paused, and when entering into the “Action Mode” all characters will perform simultaneously, giving players complete control over their party while presenting a streamlined combat system that eliminates waiting for each character to act in sequence.

Empyre: Lords of the Sea Gates is the story of an alternate New York in which the entire city is flooded by rising oceans and the citizens must learn to live in a new reality where there is water everywhere, but none of it possible to drink. The player must make their way in search of a fresh water supply source, picking up companions along the journey. But the trip won’t be easy, as there are many threats both human and inhuman that players will encounter.

“One of the things we strove for when designing Empyre is authenticity during an ‘Age of Technical Wonder’ in the United States, the Gilded Age,” said John Randall, Creative Director of Empyre. “For example, the New York City we all know is the city in this game, and history buffs will recognize many iconic locations that existed in the city during the 1910s, but with a unique, waterlogged twist. People and society exist and act as they did in the early 20th Century. We feel this level of detail will give players a one-of-a-kind experience that they haven’t seen anywhere before.”

Empyre:  Lords of the Sea Gates pays homage to historic accounts by adding authentic items such as patent medicines including poisons or tonics made from dangerous ingredients. Many of the games’ objectives and side quests will tie directly into the experiences that someone in the 19th century would have. The game’s authenticity reflects scenes from New York during the 1900s, while tying the storyline to current day themes such as global warming and the rising of the oceans.

Currently in development by Coin Operated Games, Empyre: Lords of the Sea Gates will be available via Steam this fall. More information will be shared in the coming weeks once the waters die down…

For more product information, visit www.empyrethegame.com, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Empyrethegame-272522026282358/, Twitter at https://twitter.com/EmpyreTheGame #nowatertodrink and on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/EmpyreTheGame

About Coin Operated Games

Headquartered in New Hampshire with development partners located internationally, Coin Operated Games is an independent developer whose mission is to create a unique series of games set in different eras and locations. The core team is made up of industry veterans with a combined 60 years of experience from iconic organizations like Crytek, Codemasters, Creative Assembly, Stormregion, and Digital Reality. Empyre: Lords of the Sea Gates will be the inaugural project for Coin Operated Games, and is scheduled for release in 2017.

MONSTER HUNTER INVADES PUZZLE & DRAGONS WITH ALL-NEW CHARACTERS, CAMPAIGN, AND DUNGEONS

MONSTER HUNTER INVADES PUZZLE & DRAGONS WITH ALL-NEW CHARACTERS, CAMPAIGN, AND DUNGEONS

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — July 10, 2017 — GungHo Online Entertainment America has announced today a brand new event that brings Capcom’s Monster Hunter, the hit action RPG, to the mobile game phenomenon Puzzle & Dragons beginning July 10 and ending July 23.

Puzzle & Dragons invites players to stalk their way through the treacherous lands of Monster Hunter in an all-new dungeon featuring the world’s most daunting creatures. With the inclusion of a new multiplayer dungeon, the Monster Hunter tie-in delivers a refreshing take on the classic Puzzle & Dragons experience that allows up to three players to cooperatively battle through the Multiplayer Monster Hunter Collab! Dungeon where Massacre Demon Diablos awaits them. Ranging in difficulties from Intermediate to Ultra G Rank, the new dungeon is home to a variety of monsters, including Amatsu, Valphalk, Kirin, Rathalos, and more.

As part of the new campaign, players will receive the Male Hunter upon logging into Puzzle & Dragons. The Female Hunter can also be obtained after clearing the Hunt-a-thon-Teams of 4 or less floor in the Monster Hunter Collab dungeon as a first time clear bonus. Hunters can evolve into more powerful forms after performing an Ultimate Evolution using the material items from the Monster Hunter Collab dungeons. Male and Female Hunters can also be purchased in the MP shop for 200,000 MP each.

For a limited time, players Rank 50 or higher will receive one free pull at the Rank 50 Monster Hunter Egg Machine. During the event, an in-game mail will be sent to those that have reached a Rank of 50. By pressing the “Start” button in this mail, one random featured collab monster will be received.

[10 Magic Stone Monster Hunter Egg Machine]:
★7
Amatsu
Massacre Demon Diablos
★6
Valphalk
Kirin
Rathalos
Mizutsune
Glavenus
★5
Gammoth
Astalos
Rathian
Tigrex
Nargacuga

Puzzle & Dragons is a mobile gaming phenomenon that continues to see tremendous growth. The game features an addictive combination of puzzle, dungeon-crawling, and monster-collecting gameplay. In the game, players capture, collect, and evolve hundreds of elemental monsters while using quick thinking to chain combos and maximize the abilities and skills of their monsters. Puzzle & Dragons has surpassed 60 million downloads worldwide and can be download from the App Store, Google Play, and Amazon Appstore.

For information on GungHo Online Entertainment America, visit
www.gunghoonline.com. Fans can also follow the latest Puzzle & Dragons news on Facebook and Twitter.                                                     

# # #

ABOUT GUNGHO ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT AMERICA

GungHo Online Entertainment America is a multiplatform publisher dedicated to delivering the best titles, content and support for the online gaming community. Established in 2012 and led by former Square Enix U.S.A. and XSEED Games executive Jun Iwasaki, GungHo Online Entertainment America is the US division of GungHo Online Entertainment (GOE), an established Japanese publisher. GungHo Online Entertainment America’s content partners include leading developers Grasshopper Manufacture, Game Arts, Acquire, and Gravity, all of which are subsidiaries of GOE. GungHo Online Entertainment America publishes and distributes network-oriented games for console, handheld, mobile, tablet, and MMO-style games for PC. GungHo Online Entertainment America is located in El Segundo, CA. For more information, visit www.gunghoonline.com.

EXCLUSIVE PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS LIVESTREAMS COMING TO FACEBOOK JULY 10

EXCLUSIVE PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS LIVESTREAMS COMING TO FACEBOOK JULY 10

Bluehole Inc. to Feature PUBG ‘Streamers’ on Facebook Live Each Week

Seoul, South Korea – July 10, 2017 – Bluehole Inc. announced today that it will livestream exclusive content for PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS (PUBG) on Facebook Live. Beginning on July 10 at 7:00 – 10:00 PM  PDT and occurring four times a month, Bluehole will livestream PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS gameplay on their Facebook Page. Each live video will showcase different elements, starting with games hosted by one of Bluehole’s community managers. The weekly livestreams will then alternate hosts between content creators from the PUBG community and Bluehole’s community managers.

“This new initiative with Facebook will bring our passionate fan base closer to our development team,” states Chang Han Kim, VP and Executive Producer, Bluehole Inc. “Livestreaming has been very important to the growth of PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS. We believe that featuring PUBG livestreamers on Facebook further strengthens our commitment to the community while extending the reach of our game to a global audience.”

Starting July 10 and following every Monday at 7:00 PM PDT, gamers can tune in to PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS Facebook Page to catch the latest stream: www.facebook.com/playbattlegrounds/. To be notified when a video goes live, make sure to click the ‘like’ button on the Page.

“Facebook and the Bluehole team have a shared belief in the power of gaming communities, and PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS is a stunning example of a hit game guided directly by its fans,” said Leo Olebe, Director of Global Games Partnerships at Facebook. “BATTLEGROUNDS is just as much fun to watch as it is to play, and we’re excited to see some of the best PUBG creators bring exclusive content to Facebook to help fuel its growing community on the platform.”

For more information about PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS, please visit playbattlegrounds.com and follow its announcements on Facebook – www.facebook.com/playbattlegrounds/.

PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS – Not Just a Game. This is Battle Royale.

# # #

ABOUT BLUEHOLE
Founded in 2007 and based in Korea, Bluehole, Inc. is the developer of the popular action MMORPG, TERA, which has attracted over 25 million registered users worldwide. TERA is live in seven different territories including North America, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Europe and Russia and has reached the #1 spot on Steam’s MMORPG charts. Having achieved high standards and worldwide recognition for its online roleplaying games, the studio has also expanded into the mobile gaming market. Bluehole’s first non-MMO title, PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS, has sold more than four million units since its Early Access launch on March 23, 2017. PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTELGROUNDS is fully developed and published by Bluehole worldwide. For more information, visit www.bluehole.net/en.

Valkyria Revolution Review

Valkyria Revolution

Developer: Media Vision
Publisher: Sega
Platforms: PS Vita, PlayStation 4, Xbox One (Reviewed)
Release Date: Available Now
Price: $39.99 USD – Available Here $59.95 AUD – Available Here

Overview

Combining strategy gameplay with fantasy elements is hardly a new concept but when Sega put together Valkyria Chronicles back in 2008 many people saw it as a great success. After various ups and downs throughout the years the company has returned with something quite a bit different. Set in the same universe as the original series but best taken as a completely separate entity, does the action RPG that is Valkyria Revolution offer a worthwhile experience?

Story

As previously mentioned, it is worth noting that Valkyria Revolution features a number of similarities to the Valkyria Chronicles games so various shared terms will pop-up but do not expect any connection between the series outside of these phrases. Set in the year of 1853 CE the continent of Europa is a powder keg waiting to plunge itself into war and the tiny kingdom of Jutland has been pushed to the brink. With the Ruzi Empire forcing an economic blockade on the small land, the Ruzi Empires’ sights are set on the massive Ragnite that the country possesses.

With Ragnite being a precious azure mineral capable of generating large amounts of power as well as giving users potential magical properties, the land of Jutland is at their wits end as hunger spreads and the sick die from illnesses that would easily have been treated if medicine was allowed through the blockade. As such the anti-Valkyria unit known as the Vanargand, led by Amleth, begins an assault on a Ruzi base just as the kingdom of Jutland announces their plans for war. The only problem with this is the fact that the princess of Jutland, Ophelia, is with the unit and witnesses an event that points to the true motives of Amleth.

It is interesting to note that the story is told through the frame of a history lesson. Years in the future a student pursues his teacher to learn about the true nature of the events that took place during the war, the events that have since been painted over for unknown reasons and left Amleth and his friends labeled as traitors. This means that although players are given some clues as to what happened down the line; they are able to gain some extra perspective for these events thanks to the way it is being told.

Unfortunately while Valkyria Revolution’s storyline is rather gripping at times, it is also one that can be tiresome to deal with at times and it is primarily thanks to the way that the story is told. Between battles every major story point involves cutscenes that features the main characters talking to one another. This wouldn’t usually be a problem but many of these cutscenes are incredibly bland to watch as the characters are given very little in the way of animation, occasionally to the point that players will need to keep an ear out for who is actually talking as scenes often show characters from behind.

It also doesn’t help that these cutscenes are incredibly long in nature and feature some rather lengthy load times between scenes. There are even moments that can be described as “bathroom breaks” where a cutscene will end and place players back with the teacher and student where they can save the game and look at old scenes if they wish. Also it is worth noting that thanks to the fact that these scenes are cutscene only, there is no way to fast-forward the dialogue or advance it in any way other than simply watching it as any attempt to move things along will simply skip the entire cutscene, a few of which can run up to fifteen minutes long, leaving us with an interesting storyline with some intriguing characters that do get explored quite a bit if you choose to delve into them, that get dragged down through the tedium of the story’s presentation.

Gameplay

Once you step onto the battlefield you’ll immediately notice that Valkyria Revolution is taking full advantage of being a more action based RPG. Rather than taking turns and taking potshots at enemies your character and their squad, as well as other AI compatriots and your opponents, will move around the field in real time. It is a bit odd however that although the wait time is almost negligible, there is something of a turn system in the form of action gauges. Whether it is attacking an enemy with a melee strike, shooting at them with a gun, tossing a grenade, or using a Ragnite spell everything has a small cooldown you’ll need to wait for. This can lead to some strange confrontations where the action will feel like it is stuttering slightly and can pull some of the impact from the fights.

For those who do want to take advantage of some remaining strategy elements it is possible to give specific commands to your allies and have them use skills or simply swap to them yourself to take a more hands approach, leaving your previous character to the AI. Thanks to the fact that your ally AI is sometimes unreliable, occasionally getting stuck and sometimes delaying their skill use, the latter option is the preferred route for tight situations. Even the cover system still exists in small form as players can hide behind sandbags and various other debris to avoid taking damage from incoming fire but it is worth noting that thanks to the same butting being used to vault over walls being the one that crouches against it, there will be more than a few times you’ll end up either blowing over your cover or coming to a complete halt.

It is worth noting that various character advantages and disadvantages remain in Valkyria Revolution. This means that some characters might fight better on their own or deal extra damage with certain skill types though they might end up suffering from stat losses from disadvantageous “potentials.” Along these lines players can also spend their time outside of missions grinding towards upgrading their parties’ equipment, upgrading various skills, and attempting to build the most effective classes possible since some of the boss battles can be quite troublesome in this game.

While taking on standard enemies in a battle field that is usually fairly straightforward may seem like easy pickings at times, the bosses often feature unique weaknesses that must be targeted and if you come into the fight unprepared you may end up coming face to face with death. This means that while the shift towards an action RPG may have bothered fans of the classic series, there is still plenty of challenge to be had here and even a few light-strategy elements mixed in, though occasionally these elements get in the way of the “action” part of the game.

Visuals & Audio

Earlier I mentioned that the majority of the cutscenes in Valkyria Revolution lack anything in the way of major animation and while this remains true, there are a few standout moments that look exceptionally well handled. This is partly due to the fact that the “Gouache” engine gives a unique look to everything in this game with a hand painted design style. This leads to gorgeous looking character models on the majority of the cast as well as some great looking cutscenes though it is worth noting that some of the stages you battle on can be a bit bland at times.

Accompanying the great style of the visuals is some outstanding musical work featuring Tasunori Mitsuda as the composer. There are numerous tracks that fit perfectly with the aesthetic and feeling that the game is going for at any given time and really help bring certain moments to life. The English voice work is also handled well enough though thanks to some satisfying localization work and this is something to be quite pleased about considering how lengthy most of these scenes can be.

Overall

Although Valkyria Revolution may not be what many would expect from a game with Valkyria in the title it does serve as a serviceable action RPG with a decent combat system and a solid storyline with some great characters. Unfortunately each of these elements is weighed down by issues that are impossible to ignore. With the action combat slowed down due to action gauges and story sequences being terribly long with no option to move things along at a quicker pace, be prepared for a game that has a lot to offer but can’t stop getting in the way of itself.